AT&T and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas are giving teens a chance to channel their imagination and determination. Develop creative skills, transform ideas into reality, and discover that they have the power to inspire! Now you can support them by voting on which PSA you would like to see air on AT&T U-verse locally in Dallas this fall.

About the United Way Video Challenge
Students that attend one of the eight high schools in the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas program, “Destination: Graduation,” had the chance to get hands-on experience and express their creativity by developing a Public Service Announcement that inspires North Texans to give back to the community.

The selected filmmakers worked on one of eight film crews to create and produce their PSA during a fast-paced, five-day shoot during Spring Break (March 12-20). Each completed PSA is being showcased online, where people across North Texas will view them all and vote for their favorite. The PSA that receives the most votes will be shown on AT&T U-verse locally in the Dallas area this fall, and the winning film crew will be recognized at a special United Way event.

Week 1: May 2nd – 9th
Thomas Jefferson, Lincoln, Samuell, and Williams/McMillien/Plano East Senior High Schools will face off for the first round of voting. The PSA with the most votes will head to the final vote-off in week 3.

Week 2: May 9th - 16th
MacArthur, West Mesquite, North Mesquite, and Nimitz High Schools will face off for the first round of voting. The PSA with the most votes will head to the final vote-off in week 3.

Week 3: May 16th – 23rd
The two PSAs with the most votes from weeks 1 and 2 will be featured online for the final viewing and voting. The PSA with the most votes by the end of the final week will be shown on AT&T U-verse locally in the Dallas area this Fall 2011 and the Crew will be honored at a United Way event.

How does voting work?
Each of the 8 United Way Video Challenge PSAs will all be featured online for the world to view and vote on. The PSA that receives the most votes will be shown on AT&T U-verse locally in the Dallas area this Fall 2011. The crew will be honored at a United Way event! Our goal with this phase of the program is to help nurture the teens’ ability to harness their network and promote their work. These are skills they can use in any career whether through a resume, reel, or portfolio.

How does one vote?

• View the films on the home page.
• Click the “Vote Now!” button and it will take you to the pop up voting screen where you can follow a few simple steps to casting your vote.
• Vote as many times as you want during the allocated voting timeframes.

What is the prize for the winning PSA?
The eight PSAs will all be featured online, and the PSA that receives the most votes will be shown on AT&T U-verse locally in the Dallas area this Fall 2011. The crew will be honored at a United Way event! As part of the five-day production, filmmakers will develop a plan to promote their PSAs to people throughout North Texas.

How did production work?
During the five-day production, teens learned the ins and outs of how to design, develop, produce, shoot, and promote their PSA. College interns, who have previously participated in a similar program, and professional filmmakers taught the teens everything they needed to know including:

• Got tech training on all the equipment
• Received industry training from producers who taught teens how to arrange for film permits, craft services, and auditions
• Collaborated to develop a shot-by-shot storyboard for the script
• Made a PSA on shoot day
• Edited the masterpiece after the shoot was over

Who was eligible for the United Way Video Challenge program?
Students enrolled at one of the eight high schools participated in the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Destination: Graduation during the 2011-2012 school year:

1. Lincoln High School - Dallas, TX
2. Samuell High School - Dallas, TX
3. Thomas Jefferson High School - Dallas, TX
4. Williams/McMillen/Plano East Sr. High School - Plano, TX
5. MacArthur High School - Irving, TX
6. Nimitz High School - Irving, TX
7. North Mesquite High School - Mesquite, TX
8. West Mesquite High School - Mesquite, TX

How do I enter to become a United Way Video Challenge Filmmaker?
Applications are now closed. Check back in May 2011 to view all of the PSA films and vote online for your fave!!

I have no experience in film. Is that a big deal?
There is absolutely no experience necessary to be on a film crew! You just need to have a passion for being creative and the desire to collaborate with other teens to create a public service masterpiece. We'll fill you in on the rest.

Do I have to answer the essay questions on the application?
Yes! It's how we determine your passion for the program and choose our crews.

Can I enter for my friends?
Not if you want to run the risk of them making the crew instead of you! We evaluate each filmmaker on his or her individual entry. But encourage your friends to sign up on their own — it's really easy!

How will I know if I am accepted onto one of the eight film crews?
We will contact you via email and phone with more information! You will hear from us in early March 2011.

What if I’m out of town for part of the production week?
Unfortunately, you must be available for all five days of production in order to participate in the program.

So, you’re giving me money to produce my video?
Sorry, no film grants. However, we will teach you invaluable producing, directing and editing skills that you will need to know in order to create your own films!

How much is this program going to cost me?
There are no tuition or application fees for the United Way Video Challenge program. But you will have to provide your own transportation to and from the production headquarters (AT&T Corporate Offices at 208 S. Akard, Dallas, TX) and the film shoot (locations to be determined by you and your film crew).

What is a PSA?
A Public Service Announcement, or PSA, is an advertisement that raises community awareness about a particular issue to change the attitudes and behaviors of people who are affected. For this program, it’s a 30- to 60-second video that will inspire people to improve the lives of others in North Texas.

Will my work on a PSA be valuable if I want to create a film?
Absolutely. What you learn in this program can be transferred to nearly any other creative venture — film, music video, documentary and more — because the production process, technical know-how and creative storytelling process are all the same. PSAs tell a story in 30 to 60 seconds or so, whereas films tell a longer form story. PSAs, like films, can have the style of a documentary, a narrative story, or another type of creative.

What is the theme of the United Way Video Challenge PSA?
The purpose of your PSA will be to inspire people to give to United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. But the way your film crew tells that story will be different from each of the other film crews because it will be created from your and your film crew’s unique perspective!

Where will production take place?
The kickoff meeting and all production days will take place at the AT&T Corporate Offices at 208 S. Akard, Dallas, TX. Shoot days will be on location (at locations you and your crew will determine), but you will likely meet at AT&T before you head out for the shoot.

I don't have a car. Are you going to drive me to the United Way Video Challenge Headquarters?
No. If you are chosen to be on the film crew, you are responsible for getting to and from the AT&T Corporate Offices and shoot location each day. AT&T Corporate Offices are located at 208 S. Akard, Dallas, TX.

How many film crews will be producing?
There are eight crews of teen filmmakers, each of which will making one United Way PSA.

I already have a crew including actors. Can we make our own PSA?
Sounds like you're well on your way to creating films of your very own — congratulations! This program, however, is a team-oriented experience from start to finish. Our program is not designed to produce any one filmmaker's vision. But we certainly hope you go on to make your own films and videos!

Can I be the director?
No one filmmaker will be selected over another to serve in any crew position for the duration of the production week. As a United Way Video Challenge Filmmaker, you will rotate through several crew positions, including camera, sound, assistant director, etc.

Who gets to write the script?
You! Your team will create the concept for the PSA, then write the script and get it approved (“green lighting”) all on Day 1!

I want to be on the crew AND act in the film. Is that possible?
We LOVE multitaskers. But if you're selected to be on the film crew, we will need you to participate strictly behind the camera. However, you will get to cast any actors for your PSA during an open casting call on Day 2 of the production week.

What equipment are we going to use?
Get ready to start drooling! You will be working on HD camera equipment and professional editing stations that we provide. You'll be teamed up with our Production Interns and Senior Staff to create your film and learn the fundamentals of production, shooting and editing a PSA in just five days.

What’s up with the online voting and what do we get for winning?
The eight PSAs will all be featured online, and the PSA that receives the most votes will be shown on AT&T U-verse locally in the Dallas area this Fall 2011. The crew will be honored at a United Way event! As part of the five-day production, filmmakers will develop a plan to promote their PSAs to people throughout North Texas.

How do I intern with the program?
Interns have all previously participated in a Dreaming Tree Films program like this one. Once you've participated in this program, you will receive information on how to apply to be an intern for the following year. Interns have to be high-school graduates, and be at least in their first year of college.

Who is Dreaming Tree?
Dreaming Tree Films has worked with teen creatives since 2002, when the first teen-filmmaking program was launched at Farragut Career Academy, a public high school on the Southwest side of Chicago. Since that time, Dreaming Tree's Fresh Films initiative has taught the ins and outs of the filmmaking industry to more than 4,000 youth in 27 cities across America. Youth-made films have been viewed over 10 million times via cable video-on-demand, on PBS, at local theatre, film festivals and AFI screenings, and online.

In April of 2010, the Dreaming Tree Foundation was formed in order to support the many youth programs under the Dreaming Tree umbrella. Yet our goal remains the same: To transform the lives of young people through encouraging, fostering, and actively involving them in the creative field of filmmaking. We are excited to be working with AT&T and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas to encourage teen creativity through the United Way Video Challenge, our newest project! For more information, visit www.dreamingtreefoundation.org.